The top five sides play the bottom five sides in this week’s Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 action, creating the opportunity for some teams to build gaps on the rest of the competition.
Two sides coming off heavy defeats last weekend in Hurstbridge and Greensborough will look to bounce back this Saturday when they face off at Ben Frilay Oval.
The Bridges’ winning streak at Ben Frilay Oval came to a sudden end last week following a 63-point loss to Bundoora. However, it hasn’t taken away from their positive start to the 2023 campaign.
Despite the defeat, Blake Fitzgerald had his best game in Bridges colours while Bailey Jordan continues to be an important figure up forward, with last week making it five straight games with at least one major.
Their opponents this weekend in Greensborough come off a similar defeat, conceding their highest score since 2017 in their 57-point loss to North Heidelberg at Greensborough War Memorial Park.
With a heavy loss, it came as a surprise that Jack Johnston and Angus Seivers were named as the Boro’s best players on the day, but what it does do is further highlight their importance in the defensive 50.
The absence of Nathan Howard and Jamie Smith hurt Greensborough with the ruck battles, and while their returns are uncertain, they’ll hope that they can put up a more competitive effort this week.
Last year saw the Bridges claim a tight victory at Ben Frilay Oval between these two sides in Round 2, before the Boro won the follow-up meeting at War Memorial Park in convincing fashion.
The Bridges don’t face a side currently in the top five until Round 12 after this fixture so they will be hoping that a bounce back win see them return to the top five while the Boro will aim to be at their defensive best again on Saturday.
A dominant Montmorency will look to continue their brilliant early season form when they host Banyule for the first time at Montmorency Park.
Whilst they’ve had a few hiccups along the way, the Magpies have proven to be the biggest threat to Heidelberg this year. Highlighted last week, when a fast start saw them run over the top of West Preston-Lakeside by 28 points at J.E. Moore Park.
Competition leading goalkicker Patrick Fitzgerald continued his spectacular start to the 2023 campaign last weekend, adding seven goals to his season tally, which included his 700th career goal. Round 8 will mark his 250th senior game in the black and white, and he is looking as good as ever to keep this brilliant form up on Saturday and beyond.
Round 7’s triumph over the Roosters also came thanks to co-captain Sam Binion, who without Marcus Lentini, starred in the midfield.
They take on a Banyule side coming off a strong performance against Whittlesea in their return to Beverley Road Oval.
Patrik Della Rocca starred up forward with a career-high six goals and finished with nine Coaches MVP votes whilst Max Jones had his strongest performance for the Bears.
Whether it’s been at A.K. Lines Reserve or Beverley Road Oval, Banyule have been superb at home but are yet register a victory away this year. It doesn’t help that they face a Montmorency side who are yet to taste defeat to Montmorency Park this season.
The Magpies are the clear favourites on paper, but as proven this year, they are a vulnerable side when the opposition are on their game.
Having gotten back to their best last weekend, Bundoora will expect to build some momentum when face a struggling Macleod side at Yulong Reserve.
The Bulls were in a world of pain before last week’s clash, having lost three straight games, however it was a strong response on Saturday, with some handy inclusions helping them register a comfortable win over Hurstbridge, which could have been more had they have kicked straighter than 15.22.
Sam Lloyd was one of those additions to Michael Ryan’s side, and he starred playing his first game of the season. Former skipper Brent Marshall was also a crucial inclusion while Hamish Shepheard took the game into his own hands with a perfect performance.
Bundoora currently boast the best defensive record in the competition, conceding an average of just over 62 points a game in the last month, despite three of those four games being losses.
They take on a Macleod side that have lost three of their last four games, including last weekend to the tune of 55 points to top of the ladder Heidelberg; that was despite being just 14 points behind at half time.
Whilst it’s been another rough start to the season for the Roos there’s still been plenty of shining lights, including a five-goal outing last weekend from Solomon McKay as well as the form of Kurt Manuel through midfield.
The Bulls won both encounters over Macleod by at least 50 points, but if Craig Hayes is able to add some important firepower back to his side (as they played last week without Darcy Barden, Kobe and Reid Brandt, Zac Hudson or Michael Hurley), the Roos could become a lot more competitive this time around.
The two most recent premiers in Heidelberg and West Preston-Lakeside will meet at Warringal Park.
Up against a side he guided to a premiership in 2010, Vin Dattoli has been able to build on what Danny Nolan started last season at Heidelberg throughout the first seven weeks of the campaign.
The Tigers won big last weekend over Macleod, with 13 individual goalkickers coming from their 22 goals, to ensure their spot at the top remains solid.
Lachlan Wilson is undoubtedly staking his claim for a second Frank Rosbrook Medal, having been named in his side’s best in every single game this year, the last fortnight in particular has been scintillating from the two-time premiership midfielder.
He’s been well assisted by Sam Gilmore and Brayden Sier who have both also been in remarkable form.
West Preston-Lakeside’s hot and cold season continued into last week as they followed up their victory over Whittlesea with a disappointing loss to Montmorency at home.
What has been consistent in recent weeks has been the form of co-captain Ahmed Saad, who’s kicked 11 majors in his three games since coming back from a season ending injury last year, while reigning Frank Rosbrook Medallist Matthew Harman has also found form, being named in his side’s best in all three games he’s played in 2023.
Luke Giles’ men are in the midst of a tough four-week period, as they face Bundoora and Hurstbridge following this week’s clash with the reigning premiers.
Last year saw the Tigers win both encounters against the Roosters 66 and 87 points respectively. But while the hosts will come in as favourites, West Preston-Lakeside’s unpredictability this year could see them be at their best against a powerful Heidelberg outfit.
North Heidelberg will aim to make it five consecutive wins in the top flight when they travel to Whittlesea Showgrounds to face Whittlesea.
It’s been a remarkable month of form for Jason Heatley’s side. They currently sit in third spot and are clearly the best attacking side in the competition, averaging over 100 points a game.
They’ve won their last four games by at least 40 points and have broken that 100-point hurdle in all four games, all after starting the season 0-3.
Last weekend against Greensborough, it was Liam Nunan who stepped up to the plate with a four-goal and 10 Coaches MVP Award vote outing at War Memorial Park.
Majak Daw also had another big outing with three goals alongside Jesse Tardio and Billy Hogan who were terrific in midfield.
Up against an Eagles side yet to register a win this season, last weekend saw them also go down by 73 points against Banyule at Beverley Road Oval.
Despite the loss, Jaron Murphy had a terrific 100th game with three goals whilst Sandringham VFL star Blake Watson got back to his best in his first game of the season for the club, and was a clear standout for Wayne van der Ross’ men.
The Bulldogs won both encounters over Whittlesea last year, however their last meeting at the Showgrounds saw North Heidelberg only win by four points in a high-scoring affair.
Whittlesea will be hoping to bring a similar level of competitiveness this time around.
